Notebook: Flynn 'closing the gap' on Brohm

Aug. 13, 2008

Written by

Ryan Grant suited up Wednesday but didn't participate in team drills. Corey Wilson/Press-Gazette

Quick hit

— Defensive tackle Justin Harrell (back) continues to progress, according to Thompson, though there apparently is no timetable for the former No. 1 draft pick to make his training camp debut. “We go by our doctors' advice, and he is making progress,” Thompson said. “We feel pretty good about it.”

Though that timeline extends to the Family Night scrimmage — Brohm finished 6-for-15 passing that night, Flynn 6-for-11 — it was in Monday’s exhibition opener that Flynn seemed to make his move.

Brohm threw an interception on his first play and finished 8-for-17 passing for 70 yards, generating no points in five drives. Flynn led a 12-play, 62-yard no-huddle drive for a touchdown and finished 12-for-21 for 97 yards.

“I think Matt is getting more comfortable,” McCarthy said. “Brian was more comfortable quicker, in the earlier part as far as the (organized team activities), understanding what we’re doing. I think they’re both good young prospects.”

Flynn wasn’t perfect on Monday, either. He admitted Wednesday he could have avoided a sack on his first play by making a protection adjustment, and he wasn’t exactly striking downfield — his longest completion was 12 yards.

But for a seventh-round draft pick from LSU who seemed from the beginning to be the clear-cut No. 3 behind starter Aaron Rodgers and Brohm, the second-rounder from Louisville, it's been an impressive week-and-a-half.

“I really don’t assume anything,” Flynn said. “I came in here, I didn’t know really what the situation is going to be or what it’s going to be like at the end of camp. It’s one of those things that, I’m going to go out and play as hard as I can and just let coaches do their job.”

Earlier Wednesday, General Manager Ted Thompson said the team is looking no closer at veteran backup quarterbacks than potential upgrades at any other position.

“We like our two young guys, and we think they are on a steady path here,” Thompson said. “Quite frankly, our coaching staff likes working with them, so we feel pretty good.”

Hawk hurting

Linebacker A.J. Hawk will miss Saturday’s game because of a chest injury he sustained in the first quarter on Monday.

Hawk, who hasn’t missed a game in his two NFL seasons, was injured while breaking up a third-down pass from Carson Palmer to tight end Ben Utecht, McCarthy said.

Brandon Chillar worked in Hawk’s place with the No. 1 defense on Wednesday and probably will start against the 49ers.

Martin OK

Ruvell Martin has had concussions before, but he called the hit from safety Marvin White that knocked him out of Monday’s game “probably the best shot I’ve ever taken.”

“I got blasted in my jaw and was out,” said Martin, who sustained a jaw contusion and a mild concussion on the play. “That happens. It’s football. Everyone’s running around there trying to hit each other and hit each other hard, and the guy got me.”

Martin said he feels OK, all things considered, though McCarthy all but ruled him out for Saturday. Running back DeShawn Wynn, who sprained his right ankle on a carry in the second quarter, also isn’t expected to play.

Running back Ryan Grant (slight hamstring strain) also was in pads but didn’t take part in any team work.

“Timing-wise, felt good, I really felt like I was getting in a groove,” said Grant, who missed the first week of camp while awaiting a contract agreement. “It definitely sucks. But it is what it is.”

Nelson's push

Will Blackmon is the clear favorite to return punts if he’s healthy, but Jordy Nelson stands to receive more opportunities in the preseason.

The rookie second-round draft pick had a nifty 16-yard punt return among four returns for 31 yards on Monday.

“He has several things going for him,” Thompson said of Nelson, who scored touchdowns on two of his five punt returns as a senior last fall at Kansas State.

“Number one, he catches the ball very good, so you feel good about that. He has very good instincts with the ball, good run after the catch, those kind of things that you can see over and over on his college tape. He's also a bigger, stronger guy than your average receiver, which would lead you to believe that he has the ability and the strength, sort of like Koren (Robinson, the former Packer), in terms of breaking tackles and bouncing off guys on special teams. We thought he did a pretty good job (Monday) night.”